Contributors
Wedding
Primer
BLACK TIE
ENTERTAINMENT
When it comes to weddings, there are traditional
and contemporary guidelines for you to consider
to avoid less-than-satisfactory scenes. Mr. Bien
Rivera of Black Tie Entertainment gives us basic
planning ideas for a worry-free, BIG day.
CHOOSING DISHES:
Your favorite foods VS their favorite foods
“If you’re having a buffet and expecting a guest
who could be offended even by the slightest sight
or smell (I know of some non-pork eaters who
feel like throwing up when they smell lechon) of
a particular item on your menu, it might be a good
idea to sit him or her away from the buffet and
have an appropriate dish served on the table.”
ON MARRIED FRIENDS: Buy 1 Take 2?
“Especially during weddings, it is poor etiquette
to ask one part of a married couple and not the
other..the exception would be during professional
function such as conventions or recognition
nights.”
KIDS IN THE WEDDING: Yes or No?
“If it’s formal event, it would be improper to invite
kids. It would be uncomfortable not just for the
other guests but for the kids themselves! I think
the bigger issue is on guests who don’t seem to
understand that they shouldn’t be bringing their
kids or any pluses when the invitation clearly
states its for Mr & Mrs.”
SECOND ‘I DO’: Well, it’s always best to be
ready, right?
“Hire private security or the police if you think your
ex would come to your party and rain on your
parade.”
ROYAL TREND: Recently, the royal wedding saw
Kate Middleton dropping the “I obey”, how do
we go about this without possibly offending our
parish—or our husbands-to-be?
“Princess Diana also removed ‘obey’ from her
vows in 1981, which was seen as very feisty and
against the royal protocol then. Now Middleton’s
refusal to say obey is being represented as part of
a modern marriage and a modern couple.”
Some traditions are just obsolete. How can you
be true to others if you are not true to yourself?
“If you regard yourself as an equal, then by all
means, remove it. Only the prejudiced would be
offended.”
HE SAYS SHE SAYS: Can’t seem to agree on
wedding details, like, cake flavor?
“Get a marriage counselor” LOL
TRADITION VS PERSONAL CHOICE
“This is your special day! You may omit certain
traditions like the doves, the first dance etc.
What’s important is that no one is offended and
that you made it such a fun day that you and your
guests will remember it for the years to come. Let
me repeat, it doesn’t have to be a big wedding.
What you save on the number of guests, you
can use for extra booze, better food, great
entertainment etc. You don’t want strangers or
relatives who secretly despise you to be present
at your wedding day, right?”
FATHER IS M.I.A OR R.I.P.: Who walks the
bride?
“Pick the person who would feel nearly the same
as your dad had he been alive [or present] to give
you away. If you have an older brother who is
very close to you, then he’s the next best option.
If it’s an uncle or an older cousin, then it will have
to be so. If none at all, then don’t force it. Walk
solo, anyway, by the end of the wedding, you
won’t be alone anymore.”
Bien Rivera is a highly reputable Emcee and a
former wedding & corporate event professional.
For a free consultation, you can visit him on
Wednesday evenings at Holiday Inn Galleria
or Thursday evenings at The Legend Villas
Hotel or contact him at (+632) 215-3220 • (+63)
9176594788 for an appointment at the Black Tie
Entertainment office at Jollibee Plaza, Ortigas
Center, Pasig City. www.blacktiemanila.com
TIGHT BUDGET: Potluck, anyone? Don’t.
“ I normally suggest to the couple to simply invite
less people. I find it more meaningful to have an
intimate affair with the people that matter to the
couple. In a large event, the people who normally
eat-and-run are the ones who are not very close
to the couple.”